Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

What is premenstrual syndrome?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
is a combination of emotional, physical, psychological, and mood disturbances that occur after a woman's ovulation and typically ending with the onset of her
menstrual flow. The most common mood-related symptoms are irritability,
depression, crying, oversensitivity, and mood swings. The most common physical symptoms are fatigue, bloating,
breast tenderness (mastalgia),
acne, and appetite changes with food cravings.

A more severe form of PMS, known as
premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), also known as late luteal phase dysphoric disorder, occurs in a smaller number of women and leads to significant loss of function because of unusually severe symptoms.
The American Psychiatric Association characterizes PMDD as a severe form of PMS
in which anger, irritability, and
anxiety or tension are
especially prominent.